Omaha daily bee., 1887-05-21
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE, SATURDAY. NAY 21 1887


special reference to their fitness for the
work; the board is too cumbersome and
should be decreased to twenty-four mem.
bers, 1t now consisting of foi ity-eight. 1t
Is unwise policy to permit executive Off
GERS or employees to be members of the
board. The synodical and presbyterial
committees on publication and Sabbath
schools should be consolidated under, the
name of publication and Sabbath school
committee. One evening, the second,
should he given the board at all assem-
blies. This reorganization, 1t is thought,
would push the board to the front rank
which it deserves by the Importance Of
Its work.
The report was received
The recommendations were taken up
seriatim.
The first was adopted unanimously.
The committee of arrangements then
announced that to-day, at $3.50 o'clock,
there will be an elders prayer meeting
IN the Second church, on Dodge street.
1t was also stated that the citizens of
Omaha were preparing drive thro ugh
the city this afternoon.
The religious exercises this morning
will be led over by DIR. +. p. Collin, OF
Pittsburg.
DR.. Harsha stated that the citizens of
Hastings had extended an invitation to
the assembly to visit Hastings city and
college. He suggested that Saturday,
the 2Sth inst, be selected as the day for
the excursion.
A number Of members opposed gong
on that day, because to do so would en-
tail uniustifiable expense upon the pres.
bvteries, and cause the loss of whole
day.
Adjournment was taken pending the
settlement of the case.
Presbyterian Sunday school eetings.
1t was splendid audience that the ag-
gregate Presbyterian Sunday schools of
Omaha constituted at the Exposition last
evening. Fully three thousand children,
teachers and parents occupied the larger
part of the vast seating area. Especially
was realization Of the great number
assembled made forcible when the whole
audience rose and sang, in magnificent
chorus, the grand old hymns which were
familiar TO all.
The meeting was happily introduced
by singing after which the retiring mod
orator, Rev. ID. G. Marquis, ID. d., made
a brief address. He said he was very
glad that his duties for the even
ing were to introduce other
speakers, from whom he wished to
hear-reverend gentlemen who, all their
lives, had taken the deepest interest in
Sunday school work. 1t was, to his no.
ton, the grandest of all church effort and
the most fruitful results. 1twas the duty
of this assembly to give it conspicuous
place in their deliberations. In his own
church the pastors and elders together
engaged in the work SO that their guild
ance always directed the school; nor
with the pastor, because the pastor was
and the superintendent the director.
Never was the outlook so bright for the
Sunday schools of the land. Yet
is growing evil that there
is too little familiarity with tho words of
the English bible, stored in memory so
that they will readily come to mind In
stead of giving SO much attention to the
arrangement and paraphernalia of the
school, they. should pay more toward
in the mind.
He then introduced Rev. Dr. Worden
as gentleman who could tell them just
what the Presbyterian church is doing
for the Sunday school.
DIR. Worden said that the pastors could
not but appreciate the fact thct in
Omaha they had met a warm reception.
nney Wouiu ALSO nave IL W say Inat the
Presbyterian Sunday schools of Omaha
had given them a most royal welcome.
There has been healthy progress in the
true idea of what is the Sabbath school.
1t is simply the teaching of the bible. All
in the church should be in the Sabbath
school. After nine years of continuous
and untiring work, these purposes of the
Sabbath school are being understood.
Just look at the Sabbath school work
,nrfNr hvy
any attempt on the part of the sessions
to control Sabbath schools would have
been resented. Tonight all our 1870 pres
byterles IN this country have their Sab.
bath school committees These commit
tees hold institutes. and the schools look
to their presbyterles instead OF the county
or state conventions. In two years three
questions have been added: How many
baptised scholars are there? How many
are members of the church? How many
members of the church are Sabbath
school scholars?
He said: 81 have heard it is feared that
the Sabbath school is becoming a substi-
tute for TIE home. The Sabbath school
need not become substitute for the
home. 1t need only be help, and a
recitation to the teacher of what is
home for bible teachhing. An ounce of
mother is worth pound of preacher and
q ton of Sunday school.
If the child can't 90 to both church and
Sabbath school let him 60 TO church.
Faint applause. "That's rather sickly,
isn't it. Mr.. MODERATOR" Louder APP
plause. "That will do bctter.''
After all, the thing SINNERS itself
down to this: What is the quality of the
teachers? Let the teacher have all the
time he can use and let the superIntend-
ent get out of the way. The teachers
should be "workmen who need not be
ashamed, handling Alright the word of
truth" The same law which trains good
mechanics and good professional people
ought to apply to Sabbath schools.
items of thousands of teachers have
trained themselves for practical, effective
Sunday school teaching; but side by
side of these are scores who are
not fit to teach. Who is to
blame? Dare say it9 will. The as
sembly, the synods, the presbyteries.
They are to blame. They do not make
proper preparations for training the
$4,000 rectors who are distributed from
from ocean to ocean. We have done
something. We have tried conventions.
Eight years ago we conducted one in
Omaha. wouldn't know Omaha o'day
grown triple. The conventions on the